Scott praises new report on benefits of tax increment financing in Vermont

By Brent Addleman | The Center Square

A new independent report illustrates how effective a tax incentive program has been in Vermont, Gov. Phil Scott said.

The governor highlighted a report from the Vermont League of Cities and Towns that demonstrates the positive economic effects of Tax Increment Financing. The program helps municipalities finance work for public infrastructure such as streets, sidewalks, and storm water management systems throughout the state.

“Tax increment financing is a powerful economic and community development tool, which is why I have advocated for expanding it to more communities, working with the Legislature to add six more TIF districts in 2017,” Scott said in a release. “For Vermont in particular, it allows cities and towns to grow and important projects to come to fruition when they otherwise may not have due to upfront financial costs and barriers.”

According to the release, the report shows that municipalities in the past six years have generated $685 million in development, created nearly 4,000 jobs, and witnessed a 68% rise in property tax revenue for the Education Fund.

“TIF districts and projects create affordable housing, remediate brownfields, update aging infrastructure and make transportation improvements in our downtowns,” Scott said in the release. “The result of these projects increases grand list value and statewide education tax revenues, which make them important to our work to grow the economy in all corners of our state. If we bring this program to small rural communities, we can improve the quality of life for Vermonters where they live and work, as well as make our towns more attractive to prospective employers and new workers.”

Image courtesy of Phil Scott for Vermont

2 thoughts on “Scott praises new report on benefits of tax increment financing in Vermont

  1. Balderdash – the research was between 2017 and 2019? Before the plandemic and before Biden bucks awashed into the State coffers for obeying the Master.

  2. This report is pure sophistry. Unfortunately, the average TNR reader doesn’t have the expertise to recognize the scam.

    Re: “According to the release, the report shows that municipalities in the past six years have generated $685 million in development, created nearly 4,000 jobs, and witnessed a 68% rise in property tax revenue for the Education Fund.”

    The report implies that these so-called benefits are based solely on a 68% rise in property taxes. There’s not a mention of the $10 Billion Vermont received in Covid related subsidies over the last two years. Those government subsidies virtually doubled Vermont’s annual budget for two years. The government has to spend that money on something.

    The Governor, the Vermont Legislature, and their appointed cronies, are scamming Vermonters. According to the U.S. Bureau of labor statistics, Vermont’s non-farm employment has declined from 312 thousand jobs to 299 thousand jobs over the last 6 years. That’s a decline of 13,000 jobs over the period. And, last year, the majority of new jobs were created by the tax subsidized government, education, and healthcare sectors.

    Meanwhile, by their own report, property tax revenues increased 68%, faster than the rate of inflation.

    Think about that. With jobs and income related taxes declining, even with the massive influx of recent Federal Covid subsidies, the only way Vermont can sustain itself is by raising property taxes.

    When push comes to shove, these people will take everything we own to feather their own nest.

    “Image courtesy of Phil Scott for Vermont” – tsk, tsk.

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